Foldable ration heater



Feb. 3, 1 953 2 G. L. ANDERSON 2,627,263

FOLDABLE RATION HEATER Filed April 14. 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET l 23 II 20 2524 I9 '25 INVENTOR. GEORGE LANDERSON BY @wW ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1953 G. 1..ANDERSON FOLDABLE RATION HEATER 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed April 14. 1952INVENTOR. GEORGE LANDERS 0N BY W A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1953FOLDABLE RATION HEATER,

George L. Anderson, Alexandria, Va., assignor to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application April14, 1952, Serial No. 282,256

(Granted under Title 35, U. 8. Code (1952),

sec. 266) 6 Claims.

an extremely compact condition when not in use, so that it may readilybe carried in a soldiers pack, coat pocket, or the like.

A further object is to provide a heater of the above-mentioned typehaving built-in ration can supporting and heating means which areshiftable to enclosed positions within the body portion of the heater,when the same is collapsed or folded. A further object is to provide ina heater of the above-mentioned character, a can support or bafile whichprevents the flame from directly contacting the ration can and burningor scorching the rations.

Still further objects are to provide a ration heater which is highlysimplified in construction, compact, sturdy and durable, reliable inoperation and quite inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible heater embodying myinvention, and showing the same in use for heating a can of rations,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the heater in the collapsed or foldedcondition,

Figure 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the folded heater,

Figure 4 is a plan view on a somewhat reduced scale of the heater in theextended or open position,

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a similar section taken on line 6-4 of Figure 4, and,

Figure 7 is a vertical section on line of Figure 3, and drawn on areduced scale. 7

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals I 0, II and I2designate three side walls or panels which form the body portion of myheater. These side walls I 0, II

and [2 are similar in construction, and each side wall is rectangular,and flat over the major portion of its area. The side walls Ni, ii andI2 are preferably formed of'sheet metal of sufliciently heagy gauge torender the heater substantially r1g1 Each of the side walls [0, l l andI2 has its opposite ends bent to provide relatively short inclinedintegral extensions 13; extending for the entire height of the side walland projecting laterally inwardly thereof. The extensions 13 of theintermediate side wall II are hingedly connected near their top andbottom ends to the inner extensions 13 of side walls I!) and I12 byhinges 14, preferably formed from the material of the side walls It, IIand I2. Thearrange-ment is such that the three hingedly connected sidewalls or panels of the heater may be arranged to form a generallytriangular upright body portion or housing as shown in Figures 1 and 4.The hinged side walls are also swingable to the collapsed or foldedpositions shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3. The ends of the side wallsl0 and I2 remote from the intermediate side wall II are not hingedlyconnected, but freely disposed, so that the heater may be folded andunfolded, as shown. When in the collapsed condition, the side walls H),II and I2 assume the relative positions shown in Figure 3 and aresubstantially parallel. The lateral extensions l3 maintain the sidewalls l0 and I I spaced apart somewhat, and the side wall l2 liesclosely adjacent to the outer surface ofthe side wall I 0, Figure 3.When in the collapsed condition, the side walls in, II and i2 form anarrow flat housing or enclosure, and the entire assembly may beconveniently carried in a coat pocket, soldier's pack, or the like.

A shallow circular holder or pan l 5 is provided for holding a smallquantity of liquid fuel such as gasoline or, a suitable tablet saturatedwith liquid fuel. The pan I5 is rigidly secured to and carried by ashort radial arm 16, hingedly secured at I! to the side wall It). At itsouter end,

. the arm I6 is bent downwardly 90 degrees to form an integral dependingtab or stop l8, adapted to engage the side wall 10 below the hinge I1and prevent the pan l5 from swinging below horizontal, Figure 5. The panI5 is freely swingable upwardly to the position shown in Fig ures 3 and7, when the heater is collapsed. When the pan i5 is in the operativehorizontal position as shown in Figures 4 and 5, it is spaced slightlyabove the lower ends of the side Walls, and the hinge I1 is disposed atthe longitudinal center of the side Wall II]. The pan is spacedequidistantly from the three side walls I0, II and I2 when the heater isin the operative position, Figure 4.

A substantially flat support plate or bafile I9 is rigidly secured toand carried by an L-shaped arm 20, hingedly secured at 2| to the sidewall I I, Figures 4 and 6. The outer depending extension 22 of theL-shaped arm 29 constitutes a stop for engagement with the side wall II,below the hinge 2|, and prevents the support plate I9 from 2 swingingbelow the horizontal, while permitting the same to swing freely upwardlyto the inoperative or stowed position. The support plate I9 when in theoperative horizontal position is spaced a slight distance above the panI5 in parallel superposed relation therewith. The support plate isprovided near one corner thereof with a depending tab or leg 23, rigidlysecured thereto, which rests upon the hinge Il, close to the side wallIt, to further firmly support the 3 plate I9, which bears the weight ofthe ration circular =fuel pan I5, which is smaller in diameter than thesupport plate I9, as shown. The

support plate I9 is provided with three equidistantly spaced upstandingprojections or lugs 25, preferably stamped out of the material of thesupport plate. These lugs 25 engage the bottom of the ration can to holdthe same spaced slightly above the top surface of the support plate, andthe lugs also aid in positioning the can centrally upon the supportplate. In addition to its function as a support for the ration can, theplate I9 constitutes a flame baffle which prevents the flame from thefuel pan I5 from impinging directly upon the bottom of the ration can,which might result in the burning of contents.

The support plate I9 is cut off for forming a forward straight edge 26which lies adjacent to the top edge of the side wall II, Figure 7, whenthe heater is in the folded condition. When the heater is folded, noparts of the pan I5 or support plate I9 project outside of the narrowhousing formed by the side Walls I9, I I and I2.

The side walls I9, II and I2 are provided near and above their lowerends and adjacent to the fuel pan I5 with horizontal rows of spacedairinlet openings 21' which permit air to enter the lower end of thetriangular housing, and circulate upwardly through the triangularhousing for forming a natural updraft to support combustion. The sidewalls Ill, II and I2 extend a substantial distance above the supportplate I9, when the same is disposed horizontally so that the ration canresting upon the support plate is substantially enclosed by the threeside Walls as shown in'Figure l. The top end of the triangular housingis open, so that the ration can can be readily placed in and removedfrom the 'heater.

Means are provided to releasably lock the side walls Ill, II and I2 intheir extended and folded positions. Such means comprises a spring tabor latch element 21, rigidly secured in any prefer-red manner to thefree extension I3 of the side wall I2, and disposed at the verticalcenter of the side wall I2. The side wall I is provided in its freeextension I3 with an aperture 28, adapted to receive an inwardly offsetprojection or detent '29 of the latch element 21. The arrangement issuch that when the side walls I9 and I2 are swung to their positionsshown in Figures 1 and 4, wherein they contact the curved edges 24 ofsupport plate I9, the detent 29 snaps into the aperture 28 andreleasably secures the side walls in their triangular relationship,forming the housing or body portion of the heater.

When the heater is collapsed or folded for storage in a pocket, soldierspack or the like, the support plate I9 is first swung upwardly againstthe inner surface of the side wall I I, and the fuel pan I is likewiseswung upwardly against the side wall ID. The side wall I9 is then swungtoward the side wall II, until it assumes substantially the positionshown in Figure 3, and

finally the side wall I2 is folded over the side Wall I0 and disposedexteriorly thereof. When this is done, the detent 29 will snap into thenarrow space 30 between the hinged extensions I3 of the side walls I0and II, and the latch element 2'! now serves to releasably secure thethree side walls in their folded substantially parallel positions.

The lateral extensions I3 of the three side walls serve to maintain theside walls It and I I spaced apart suificiently to accommodate the fuelpan I5 and support plate I9, when these elements are swung to theirpositions between the side Walls as shown in Figures 2 and 3. However,the space between the folded side walls In and II is relatively narrowso that when the support plate I9 and pan I5 have assumed theirpositions shown in Figures 2 and 3, they cannot again swing downwardlyto their horizontal positions, until the side walls have been opened andassume the triangular relationship shown in Figures 1 and 4. 7

As previously stated, the side walls II], II and I2 are preferablyformed of sheet metal, and the other components of the heater, namelythe fuel pan I5 and support plate I9 may likewise be formed of sheetmetal of a suitable thickness to provide the desired rigidity andstrength to the heater.

The heater is highly compact and simplified in construction, extremelyeasy to operate and occupies a minimum space Within 'a soldiers pack orthe like. When in the collapsed position shown in Figure 2, the heatermay be conveniently placed in a coat pocket or the like.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A collapsible heater comprising three hingedly connected side wallsadapted to be positioned to form an upstanding generally triangularhousing, the side walls having relatively short lateral extensions attheir ends, a fuel pan hingedly secured to one side wall and adapted toextend substantially horizontally while enclosed by the three side wallsand swingable upwardly to lie next to the side wall to which it issecured, and a support plate hingedly secured to another of said sidewalls above said fuel pan and adapted. to extend substantiallyhorizontally above the :fuel .pan while. enclosed by the side Walls andswingable upwardly to lie next to the side wall to tion includingaplurality of hingedly connected panels provided at opposite ends withrelatively short lateral extensions, the outer ends of the endmost pairof the panels being free from permanent connection and adapted to bebrought together for forming an upright enclosure open at the top, afuel pan hingedly secured to one panel near the lowerend of the same,sto means connected with the fuel pan to prevent the same from movingbelow a substantially horizontal position when the panels are upright,the fuel pan being foldable upon the panel carrying it, a support platehingedly secured to a second of said panels at an elevation above thefuel pan and spaced a substantial distance below the tops of the panels,stop means connected with the support plate to prevent the same frommoving below a substantially horizontal position when the panels areupright, the support plate being foldable upon the panel carrying it,the panels being folda-ble to substantially parallel superposedpositions wherein they are spaced apart laterally by the relativelyshort extensions of a pair of the panels and form a narrow substantiallyflat housing for the fuel pan and support plate, and releasable meansfor securing the panels in their upright or folded positions,

3. A heater for ration cans or the like comprising three hingedlyconnected wall sections adapted for arrangement to form a generallytriangular housing, the wall sections havin relatively short lateral endextensions forming corner portions of the generally triangular housing,a shallow fuel p an hingedly secured to one endmost wall section nearthe lower end of the same and adapted to extend horizontally beyond theinner side of such wall section for central arrangement within thegenerally triangular housing, the fuel pan being foldable upon the wallsection carrying it, a substantially fiat support plate hingedly securedto the intermediate wall section at an elevation near and above the fuelpan and adapted to extend horizontally inwardly of the intermediate wallsection in superposed relation to the fuel pan, the major portions ofthe wall sections extending above the sup-port plate, means connectedwith the support plate to prevent the same from moving below thehorizontal position, the endmost wall sections having their outer endsfree from permanent connection, whereby they are foldable upon eachother in opposed substantially parallel contacting relation, the endmostwall sections being then spaced from the intermediate wall section inopposed substantially parallel relation by said lateral end extensions.

4. A foldable pocket size heater comprising three hingedly connectedwall sections provided at their opposite ends with lateral extensions,corresponding ends of the endmost wall sections being freely disposed sothat the endmost wall sections are foldable over the intermediate wallsection to form a substantially fiat narrow enclosure, the wall sectionsbeing swingable to positions forming a substantially triangular uprightenclosure, 3, fuel pan hingedly secured to one wall section near thelower end of the same and adapted to extend inwardly of said wallsection for disposition centrally within the triangular enclosure, asupport plate hingedly secured to another of the wall sections at anelevation near and above thefuel pan and adapted to extend inwardly ofthe last-named wall section for disposition centrally within thetriangular enclosure, the support plate being of a larger area than thefuel pan and having marginal edges contacting said endmost wall sectionsand limiting their movement toward each other for posttively definingthe triangular enclosure, and a latch element carried by one endmostwall section and engaging the other endmost wall section to releasablyhold the three wall sections in their positions forming thesubstantially triangular enclosure.

5. A foldable heater for individual rations comprising three hingedlyconnected wall sections provided at their ends with lateral extensions,corresponding ends of the endmost wall sections being free frompermanent connection and foldable over the intermediate wall section toform a substantially fiat narrow housing, the wall sec tions beingshiftable to positions forming a substantially triangular uprighthousing, a fuel pan hingedly secured to one wall section near the lowerend of the same and adapted to extend inwardly of such wall section fordisposition centrally within the triangular housing, the fuel pan thenbeing spaced from the three wall sections, a support plate hingedlysecured to another of said wall sections at an elevation near and abovethe fuel pan and adapted to extend inwardly of the last-named wallsection for disposition centrally within the triangular housing, thesupport plate being of a larger area than the fuel pan and havingmarginal edges which contact the endmost wall sections for limitingtheir movement toward each other, a depending leg carried by the supportplate and engaging upon the fuel pan to rigidly support the supportplate while the same extends over the fuel pan, and a latch elementcarried by one endmost wall section and extending beyond the outermostend of such wall section, the other endmost wall section being providednear its outermost end with an opening receiving the latch element forreleasably securing the wall sections in their positions forming thetriangular housing, the latch element engaging the inner end of thelast-named endmost wall section when the endmost wall sections arefolded over the intermediate wall section and thereby releasably holdingthe wall sections in their positions forming the flat narrow housing.

6. A foldable heater for individual ration cans comprising a bodyportion including a plurality of hingedly connected panels provided atopposite ends with relatively short lateral extensions, the outer endsof the endmost panels being free from permanent connection and adaptedto be brought together for forming an upright enclosure having its topopen, the panels being provided near their bottom ends with openingsthrough which air enters the upright enclosure to aid combustion, a fuelpan hingedly secured to one panel at substantially the elevation of saidopenings, a depending stop element secured to the fuel pan and engagingthe panel to which the fuel pan is secured and preventing the fuel panfrom moving below a substantially horizontal position when the panelsare upright, the fuel pan being foldable upon the panel to which it issecured, a support plate hingedly secured to a second of the panels atan elevation near and above the fuel pan and spaced a substantial dis- 78 tance below the tops of the panels, a depending REFERENCES CITED- legsecured to the support plate for engaging The following references areof record in'the the fuel pan to prevent the support plate from me ofthis patent: moving below a substantially horizontal position when thepanels are upright, the support plate 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS beingfoldable upon the panel to which it is se- Number Name Date cured, thepanels being foldable to substantially 274,330 Houchin Mar. 20, 1883parallel positions wherein they are spaced apart 507,828 Montanus Oct.31, 1893 by said short lateral extensions of a pair of the 695,979Widmer Mar. 25, 1902 panels and forming a narrow substantially flat 101,262,209 King Apr. 9, 1918 housing for the fuel pan and support plate,and 1,606,197 Van Ness Nov1 9, 1926 a latch element carried by oneendmost panel 2,424,665 Pope July 29, 1947 for engagement with the otherendmos't panel to releasably secure the panels in their folded FOREIGNPATENTS and extended positions. 15 Number C u y Date 336,901 Germany May14, 1921 GEORGE L. ANDERSON.

